Motorcycles driven by members of the Patriot troops line the parking area outside of Sugar Land Airport.

Motorcycles driven by members of the Patriot troops line the parking area outside of Sugar Land Airport.

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Photo: Diane Tezeno

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Local individuals hold flags along Highway 6 in tribute to U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Garrett Gamble.

Local individuals hold flags along Highway 6 in tribute to U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Garrett Gamble.

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Photo: Diane Tezeno

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Photo: Diane Tezeno

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Processional of vehicles follow body of slain Marine escorted by Sugar Land police.

Processional of vehicles follow body of slain Marine escorted by Sugar Land police.

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Hundreds line up outside of Sugar Land Airport to pay tribute to U.S. Lance Cpl. Garrett Gamble.

Hundreds line up outside of Sugar Land Airport to pay tribute to U.S. Lance Cpl. Garrett Gamble.

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Community pays tribute to Sugar Land Marine

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Hundreds waved flags and held signs along Highway 6 near the Sugar Land Airport in tribute to U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Garrett Gamble on today.

Gamble was killed in action on March 11 in Operation Enduring Freedom while supporting combat operations in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

The Patriot Guard and members of the Houston Marine Moms, including Gamble’s mother, Chelle Greer, and family members, were on hand as Gamble’s body arrived at Sugar Land Community Airport around 2 p.m.

Individuals and groups, including local veterans and New Territory Boy Scout and Cub Scout troop nos. 38 and 116, waved flags and held signs of support as the vehicle transporting Gamble’s body departed from the airport to an area funeral home.

Members of the Sugar Land police and fire departments saluted the fallen Marine as the procession of cars left the airport.

A public visitation will take place from 12 - 7 p.m. on Friday and a memorial on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church on Eldridge.

A procession to the Veteran's Houston National Cemetery at Beltway 8 and Veteran's Memorial will immediately follow the memorial.

Neighbor Jennifer McDaniel, a resident of the New Territory neighborhood where Gamble grew up, was among the hundreds of individuals on hand to pay tribute.

McDaniel described Gamble’s mother’s loss as “unimaginable.”

“We can’t in any way understand her pain except to imagine it, there is nothing we can do but to let her know we are here for her and we won’t forget Garrett,” McDaniel said.

Mike Copeland, a former leader of Gamble’s Cub Scout troop No. 38, also was on hand with several current members of the troop.

“We are neighbors of the family also and this has been hard on all of us,” Copeland said.

Terri Blanchfield, a former babysitter, called the news of Gamble’s death “devastating for the whole community.”

Gamble and her sons played baseball and street hockey together and attended the same elementary, middle and high schools.

“My son, Tyler and Garrett were going to go to the Marines together,” Blanchfield said.

Blanchfield and her husband are coordinating a community tribute in honor of Gamble at West Sugar Land Little League’s “Friday Night Under the Lights.”

The event will take place on March 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the WSLL baseball field in New Territory, with the special tribute held between 7:30 - 8 p.m.

“There will be fireworks and we will sell food and celebrate Garrett’s life,” Blanchfield said.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Houston Marine Moms.

In lieu of flowers, Greer, an active member of Houston Marine Moms, has requested that donations be made to the group, www.houstonmarinemoms.org.